†denotes a technical group used to secure enhanced speaking rights
for its members

Elections

Voting system

Single transferable vote

Last election

26 February 2016

Next election

No later than 12 April 2021

Meeting place

Dáil chamber
Leinster House, Dublin

Website

www.oireachtas.ie

Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann (/dɔɪl ˈɛərən/[1] lit. Assembly of Ireland) is
the lower house, and principal chamber, of the
OireachtasOireachtas (Irish
legislature), which also includes the
President of IrelandPresident of Ireland and Seanad
Éireann (the upper house).[2] It currently consists of 158 members,
known as
Teachta Dála (plural Teachtaí Dála, commonly abbreviated
as "TDs"). TDs represent 40 constituencies, and are directly elected
at least once every five years under the system of proportional
representation by means of the single transferable vote (STV). Its
powers are similar to those of lower houses under many other bicameral
parliamentary systems and it is by far the dominant branch of the
Oireachtas. Subject to the limits imposed by the Constitution of
Ireland, it has power to pass any law it wishes, and to nominate and
remove the
TaoiseachTaoiseach (head of government). Since 1922, it has met in
Leinster HouseLeinster House in Dublin.

Title[edit]
The name
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann is taken from the
Irish languageIrish language but is the
official title of the body in both English and Irish, including both
language versions of the Irish constitution. Since the Dáil was first
established in 1919, it has also been described variously as a
"National Assembly", a "Chamber of Deputies" and a "House of
Representatives".
A dáil means an assembly or parliament, so a literal translation of
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann is "Assembly of Ireland". Article 15 of Ireland's
constitution describes the body as "a
House of Representatives to be
called Dáil Éireann" (Teach Ionadóirí ar a dtugtar Dáil
Éireann).[2][3]
In common usage, the word Dáil is accompanied by the definite
article, but
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann is not. So one speaks of "the Dáil" but
not "the Dáil Éireann".
The plural Dálaí[4] is used when referring to the Dáil as
constituted following different elections; for example, when referring
to the First and Second Dálaí.
Composition[edit]
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann has 158 members; the number has occasionally been
changed within the limits of the Constitution of Ireland, which sets a
minimum ratio of one member per 20,000 of the population, and a
maximum of one per 30,000. Under current legislation, members are
directly elected at least once in every five years by the people of
the
Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland under a system of proportional representation
known as the single transferable vote. Membership of the Dáil is open
to Irish citizens who are 21 or older.[5] A member of the Dáil is
known as a Teachta Dála, TD or Deputy.
The Dáil electorate consists of Irish and British citizens over 18
years of age who are registered to vote in Ireland.[6] Under the
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland a general election for
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann must
occur once in every seven years, an earlier maximum of five years is
set by the Electoral Act, 1992.[7] The
TaoiseachTaoiseach (head of government
or prime minister) can, by making a request to the president,
effectively dissolve the Dáil at any time, in which case a general
election must occur within thirty days. The President may refuse to
dissolve the Dáil, and ask the Dáil to form an alternative
government without a general election taking place.
The STV electoral system broadly produces proportional representation
in the Dáil. The small size of the constituencies used, however,
usually gives a small advantage to the larger parties and
under-represents smaller parties. Since the 1990s the norm in the
state has been coalition governments. Prior to 1989, however,
one-party government by the
Fianna FáilFianna Fáil party was common. The
multi-seat constituencies required by STV mean that candidates must
often compete for election with others from the same party. This
increases voter choice but is accused by some of producing TDs who are
excessively parochial. Two failed attempts – 1959 and 1968 – have
been made to change to the United Kingdom's plurality voting system
('first-past-the-post') electoral system. Both were rejected in
referendums. By-elections occur under the alternative vote system.
Currently every constituency elects between three and five TDs. The
constitution specifies that no constituency may return fewer than
three TDs but does not specify any upper limit to constituency
magnitude. However, statute (Section 6 of the Electoral Act 1997)
specifies a maximum of five seats per constituency. The constitution
requires that constituency boundaries be reviewed at least once in
every twelve years, so that boundaries may be redrawn to accommodate
changes in population. Boundary changes are currently drafted by an
independent commission, and its recommendations are usually followed.
Malapportionment is forbidden by the constitution. Under the
Constitution, the commission is required to refer to the most recent
Census of Ireland when considering boundary changes.
Number of members[edit]

Number of members

Dáil
Election
TDs

1st
1918
105

2nd
1921
180

3rd
1922
128

4th
1923
153

5th
Jun. 1927
153

6th
Sep. 1927
153

7th
1932
153

8th
1933
153

9th
1937
138

10th
1938
138

11th
1943
138

12th
1944
138

13th
1948
147

14th
1951
147

15th
1954
147

16th
1957
147

17th
1961
144

18th
1965
144

19th
1969
144

20th
1973
144

21st
1977
148

22nd
1981
166

23rd
Feb. 1982
166

24th
Nov. 1982
166

25th
1987
166

26th
1989
166

27th
1992
166

28th
1997
166

29th
2002
166

30th
2007
166

31st
2011
166

32nd
2016
158

33rd
Next
160

Under the
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland there must never be fewer than one
TD for every thirty thousand of the population, nor more than one for
every twenty thousand. In the 29th Dáil there was one TD for every
25,000 citizens, in line with many other
European UnionEuropean Union member state
national parliament ratios with
MaltaMalta having one MP for every 6,000
citizens and Spain having one MP for every 130,000 citizens. Ireland
has a similar MP to Citizen ratio to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Latvia,
LithuaniaLithuania and Sweden. With the
adoption of the current constitution in 1937 the membership of the
Dáil was reduced from 153 to 138, but in the 1960s the number was
increased to 144, then for the 1977 election to 148, only to be
increased more substantially in 1981 to the figure of 166. The
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011 provides that the number of members
"shall be not less than 153 and not more than 160".[8] This came into
effect at the 2016 general election.
Layout[edit]
The Dáil chamber has confrontational benches but the end segment is
curved to create a partial hemicycle. The government TDs sit on the
Ceann Comhairle's left, with the main opposition party on his right.
The Chamber was adapted for use as a Parliament from its former use as
a lecture theatre.
Duration[edit]
The
First DáilFirst Dáil Éireann was established in January 1919 as the single
chamber parliament of the Irish Republic. One of the first actions of
the Dáil was to ratify a constitution, commonly known as the Dáil
Constitution. As a provisional constitution it made no reference to
the length of the term of each Dáil. The first and second Dáil
existed under the provisions of this constitution. Neither was
recognised by the British government or the governments of other
countries as the 'lawful' parliament of Ireland.
Following the signing of the 1922 Anglo-Irish Treaty, which brought
the Irish War of Independence to an end, the single chamber Dáil
became the lower house of a new bicameral Oireachtas, the parliament
of the newly established Irish Free State. Under the treaty, a new
constitution replaced the 1919 Dáil constitution.
Article 28 of the Constitution of the
Irish Free StateIrish Free State (1922) set the
maximum term for the Dáil at four years. However, this constitution
also provided for a mechanism which allowed the
OireachtasOireachtas to ratify
constitutional amendments by way of primary legislation, without the
need for such amendments to first be approved by the Irish public in a
referendum. This provision was to remain in effect for a period of
eight years after the Free State constitution came into force (i.e. 6
December 1930). After that date constitutional amendments would
require ratification by way of public referendum before they could
come into force.
In 1927 the
OireachtasOireachtas enacted the Constitution (Amendment No 4) Act.
This Act amended Article 28 of the Free State Constitution by
extending the maximum term of
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann from four years to six
years "or such shorter period as may be fixed by legislation". Later
that same year the
OireachtasOireachtas also enacted the Electoral (Amendment)
Act 1927 (No 21 of 1927). Section 7 of that Act stated that the
"maximum duration of the
OireachtasOireachtas without a dissolution shall be
five years reckoned from the date of the first meeting of Dáil
Éireann after the last previous dissolution".
On 29 December 1937, the
Irish Free StateIrish Free State ceased to exist and was
replaced by a new state called Ireland, with the coming into force of
the new Constitution of Ireland. Article 16.5 of the 1937 constitution
states that "
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann shall not continue for a longer period
than seven years from the date of its first meeting: a shorter period
may be fixed by law". Despite this increase in the potential maximum
term of the Dáil to seven years, Section 7 of the Electoral
(Amendment) Act 1927 remained in force under the new constitution, as
it applied to the term of the Dáil. As a result, the maximum term of
the Dáil remained five years. Since the coming info force of the 1937
constitution, no Irish government has proposed changing the maximum
term of the Dáil, which still remains five years. The acceptance of
five years as the maximum term for any single Dáil was reconfirmed by
section 33 of the Electoral Act 1992, which states "The same Dáil
shall not continue for a longer period than five years from the date
of its first meeting."[9] Consequently, the maximum term for the Dáil
is five years from the date it first met following the last general
election.
Dissolution[edit]
Article 16.3.2 of the
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland (1937) provides that an
election for the membership of
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann must take place not
later than 30 days after a dissolution of the current Dáil. Article
16.4.2 of the constitution requires that the newly elected Dáil
Éireann must convene no later than 30 days after the polling day for
the election. As such, the maximum period of time between a
dissolution of
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann before a general election, and the
meeting of the new Dáil, after a general election, is 60 days.
The procedure and timetable for the dissolution of Dáil Éireann,
pursuant to a general election, and the date for the reassembly of the
newly elected Dáil, after the election, is set out in the
Constitution of Ireland. Article 13.2.1 states that "Dáil Éireann
shall be summoned and dissolved by the President on the advice of the
Taoiseach". So the timing of a general election rests with the
TaoiseachTaoiseach of the day.
Once so advised by the Taoiseach, the President issues a proclamation
which specifies the date on which the current Dáil is dissolved, and
the date on which the newly elected Dáil must first meet.
The timing for polling day in a general election is decided on by the
Taoiseach. However, this is governed within a specified statutory
framework. Once the Presidential proclamation is issued, the Minister
for the Environment, Community and Local Government sets, by way of a
ministerial order, the date and time of polling day in the election.
Section 39(1) of the Electoral Act 1992 states:

“Where the Dáil is dissolved, the Clerk of the Dáil shall,
immediately upon the issue of the Proclamation dissolving the Dáil,
issue a writ to each returning officer for a constituency directing
him to cause an election to be held of the full number of members of
the Dáil to serve in the Dáil for that constituency.”

Section 96 of the Electoral Act 1992 states:

"(1) A poll at a Dáil election—

(a) shall be taken on such day as shall be appointed by the Minister
by order, being a day which (disregarding any excluded day) is not
earlier than the seventeenth day or later than the twenty-fifth day
next following the day on which the writ or writs for the election is
or are issued,

(b) shall continue for such period, not being less than twelve hours,
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. as may be fixed by the
Minister by order, subject to the restriction that, in the case of a
general election, he shall fix the same period for all constituencies.

(2) An order under this section shall be published in the Iris
Oifigiúil as soon as may be after it is made."

For the purposes of the Act an "excluded day" means a day which is a
Sunday, Good Friday or a day which is declared to be a public holiday
by the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973, or a day which by virtue of a
statute or proclamation is a public holiday.[10]
So, if the Dáil were dissolved on a Tuesday 1 February (in a non-leap
year), and the writs for elections issued by the Clerk of the Dáil on
that day, then the earliest date for polling day would be Monday 21
February (17 days later, excluding Sundays) and the latest date for
polling would be Wednesday 2 March (25 days after, excluding Sundays),
with polling stations being open for a minimum 12-hour period between
the hours of 8am and 10.30pm on polling day (as set out in the
ministerial order). In such a scenario, the latest date by which the
newly elected Dáil must assemble would be Wednesday 23 March (for a
21 February polling date), or Friday 1 April (for a 2 March polling
date).
Ceann Comhairle[edit]
Main article: Ceann Comhairle
The chairman, or presiding member, of
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann is the Ceann
Comhairle. The
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle is chosen from among TDs but is
expected to observe strict impartiality. Despite this, the government
will usually try to select one of its own for the position, if its
numbers allow. To protect the neutrality of the chair, an incumbent
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle does not seek re-election as a TD but rather is deemed
automatically to have been re-elected by their constituency at a
general election, unless they are retiring. The
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle does
not vote except in the event of a tie. The current serving Ceann
Comhairle is
Fianna FáilFianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
Powers[edit]
While in principle
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann is only one of three components of
the Oireachtas, the other two being the
President of IrelandPresident of Ireland and
Seanad Éireann, in practice the powers the constitution grants to the
Dáil render it by far the dominant branch, meaning that most bills
passed by
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann will ultimately become law. The President can
only veto the bill if it is in conflict with the Constitution of
Ireland. For this to happen, the President must refer the bill to the
Supreme Court of IrelandSupreme Court of Ireland to test its constitutionality upon
consultation with the Council of State.
In addition to its legislative role, it is the Dáil that designates
the
TaoiseachTaoiseach for referral to the President for appointment. The Dáil
may also pass a motion of no confidence in the Government, in which
case the
TaoiseachTaoiseach must either seek a parliamentary dissolution or
resign.[11]
The Dáil also has exclusive power to:

Nominate the
TaoiseachTaoiseach (Prime Minister)
Approve the Taoiseach's nominees (en bloc) to serve as Government
ministers
Approve the Taoiseach's nominee for Attorney General
Approve the budget
Ratify treaties which include financial provisions (Provided they do
not conflict with the Constitution of Ireland)
Approve a declaration of war
Initiate 'money bills' or bills which incur a charge on the public
finances (on the recommendation of the Government only)
Nominate the Comptroller and Auditor General

Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann determines its own standing orders and its members are
protected by certain rights arising from parliamentary privilege. In
line with other modern parliamentary systems, TDs do not generally
vote in accordance with their consciences or the wishes of their
constituents, but must follow the instructions of party whips, a
practice that originated in the Irish Parliamentary Party. Except in
exceptional circumstances, the Dáil meets in public. The Dáil
currently has three standing committees and thirteen select
committees.
A typical day consists of questions to various cabinet ministers,
Leaders questions whereby opposition Leaders ask the Taoiseach
questions and routine debates on Bills. Every Tuesday and Wednesday
three hours over the two days are given to the debate of opposition
motions. These normally try to embarrass the government and are widely
covered in the media. The government and its Majority normally amends
these suitably and the amended version is passed by the Government.
Debate and speeches are generally spoken in English, but it is still
acceptable for TDs to switch back and forth between Irish and English.
The
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle has ruled that it is disorderly for one deputy to
describe another as a brat, buffoon, chancer, communist, corner boy,
coward, fascist, gurrier, guttersnipe, hypocrite, rat, scumbag,
scurrilous speaker or yahoo; or to insinuate that a TD is lying or
drunk; or has violated the secrets of cabinet, or doctored an official
report.[12] Also, the reference to "handbagging", particularly with
reference to a female member of the House, has been deemed to be
unparliamentary.[13] The Dáil maintains a document, Salient Rulings
of the Chair which covers behaviour in and out of the House by TDs;
section 428 of this lists unparliamentary speech.[14]
Standing committees[edit]

Committee on Administration
Committee on Consolidation Bills
Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann
Committee on Procedure and Privileges

Select sub-committee on Environment, Community and Local Government
Select sub-committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Select sub-committee on Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Select committee on
European UnionEuropean Union Affairs
Select committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Select committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Select sub-committee on Finance
Select sub-committee on Public Expenditure and Reform

Select committee on Health and Children

Select sub-committee on Health
Select Sub-committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Select committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Select committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions
Select committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education

Select sub-committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Select sub-committee on Social Protection
Select sub-committee on Education and Skills

Select committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Voting procedure[edit]
Firstly the
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle (or Deputy Ceann Comhairle) puts the
question in Irish asking the TDs present to say Tá (Yes) or Níl (No)
if they agree or disagree with the question before them. The Ceann
Comhairle then gives his opinion as to the outcome of the voice vote.
Deputies can challenge the
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle and demand a recorded vote
by shouting Vótáil! (Vote!) The
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle then shouts
'Vótáil' again which starts the voting process. Division bells sound
around
Leinster HouseLeinster House and in some of its adjoining buildings calling
Deputies to the chamber to vote. The bells ring for six minutes and
the doors to the chamber are locked after a further four minutes.
The
Ceann ComhairleCeann Comhairle then appoints two tellers for each side and
Deputies are given one minute to vote. The vote is taken by electronic
means whereby Deputies press either the Tá or Níl button on their
desks to vote for or against a motion. After the voting time has
concluded a sheet (Division Paper) containing the result and each TDs
vote is signed by the four tellers and given to the Ceann Comhairle
who declares the result.
While electronic voting has become the norm the Dáil votes manually
through the lobbies at the back of the chamber on a number of
occasions, for example, motions of no confidence. A teller in an
electronic vote can call a manual vote if they so wish. This has
become an opposition tactic during important votes which are widely
covered in the media.
History[edit]
Precursors[edit]
The first legislature to exist in Ireland was the Parliament of
Ireland from 1297 to 1800, and the first legislative lower house was
the House of Commons of this body. However the Parliament of Ireland
was abolished under the Act of Union of 1800. Irish nationalists first
convened
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann as a revolutionary parliament in 1919 and
while it successfully took over most functions of government it was
not recognised under United Kingdom law.
In 1921 the United Kingdom government established a legislature called
the
Parliament of Southern IrelandParliament of Southern Ireland in an effort to appease
nationalists by granting Ireland limited home rule. However this body
was rejected and boycotted by nationalists whose allegiance remained
with the Dáil. Nonetheless, because the
First DáilFirst Dáil was illegal under
the United Kingdom constitution, the lower house of the Parliament of
Southern Ireland, the House of Commons of Southern Ireland, is
considered in British legal theory as the precursor to the Dáil.
Revolutionary Dáil (1919–1922)[edit]
Main article:
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann (Irish Republic)
The current Dáil derives from the 1937 Constitution of Ireland, but
claims a direct line of descent from the 'First Dáil' of 1919. This
Dáil was an assembly established by
Sinn FéinSinn Féin MPs elected to the
House of Commons of the United KingdomHouse of Commons of the United Kingdom in the 1918 United Kingdom
general election. Upon winning a majority of Irish seats in the
election (many uncontested),
Sinn FéinSinn Féin MPs refused to recognise the
United Kingdom parliamentUnited Kingdom parliament and instead convened as the First Dáil
Éireann (translated as "Assembly of Ireland"): the unicameral
legislature of a new notional Irish Republic, and the first Irish
parliament to exist since 1801.
The Dáil of the Irish Republic, however, was only recognised
internationally by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.
The first meeting of the Dáil occurred in
DublinDublin on 21 January 1919,
in the Mansion House, attended by 27 members. The body was prohibited
in the following September, and was forced underground, meeting in
several locations.
Irish Free StateIrish Free State (1922–1937)[edit]
Main article:
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann (Irish Free State)
The Dáil of the
Irish RepublicIrish Republic was succeeded in 1922 by the Dáil of
the Irish Free State. The Irish Free State, comprising the twenty-six
southern and western counties of Ireland, was established under the
1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann (now described as a "Chamber
of Deputies") became the lower house of a new legislature called the
Oireachtas. The first Dáil to exist under the Constitution of the
Irish Free StateIrish Free State succeeded the
Second Dáil of the
Irish RepublicIrish Republic and
so was styled the Third Dáil. The Third Dáil, and every subsequent
Dáil, has met in Leinster House.
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland (since 1937)[edit]
The Constitution of Ireland, adopted in 1937, established the modern
Irish state, referred to today as Ireland.[15] Under the constitution
a new legislature retained the title Oireachtas, and its lower house
remained Dáil Éireann. The first Dáil to meet under the
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland was described as the Ninth Dáil.
Current composition[edit]
Main article: Members of the 32nd Dáil

Party
Seats

Fine Gael
50

Fianna Fáil
44

Sinn Féin
23

Labour Party
7

Solidarity–PBP
6

Independents 4 Change
3

Social Democrats
2

Green Party
2

Independent
20

Ceann Comhairle
1

See also[edit]

Bicameralism
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann election summary
Elections in the Republic of Ireland
Current Irish government
History of the Republic of Ireland
Parliamentary constituencies in the Republic of Ireland
Politics of the Republic of Ireland
Records of members of the Oireachtas

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

^ "Dáil: definition of Dáil in Oxford dictionary (British &
World English). Meaning, pronunciation and origin of the word". Oxford
Language Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. 2013. Retrieved 30
November 2013.
^ a b Article 15.1.2° of the
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland reads: "The
OireachtasOireachtas shall consist of the President and two Houses, viz.: a
House of Representatives to be called
Dáil ÉireannDáil Éireann and a Senate to
be called Seanad Éireann."
^
Constitution of IrelandConstitution of Ireland (in English and Irish)
^ http://www.teanglann.ie/en/gram/d%C3%A1il
^ "Electoral Act, 1992 – Part IX". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 2
April 2013.
^ Citizens information. "Right to vote in Ireland".
www.citizensinformation.ie. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
^ (eISB), electronic Irish Statute Book. "electronic Irish Statute
Book (eISB)". www.irishstatutebook.ie. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
^ "Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, Section 3". Office of the Attorney
General of Ireland. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
^ Electoral Act 1992, (S33),
Irish Statute Book [Accessed 25 January
2011]
^ Electoral Act 1992 (S2), Irish Statute Book
^ It has happened only once that this did not result in a general
election. In 1994
John BrutonJohn Bruton of
Fine GaelFine Gael became
TaoiseachTaoiseach when the
Labour Party left the
Fianna FáilFianna Fáil coalition government led by Albert
Reynolds
^ Salient Rulings of the Chair (2nd ed.). Dublin: Dáil Éireann. May
2002. §408.
^ "Dáil code: 'handbagging' not allowed". The Irish Times. 12
December 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
^ "Dáil Debate Vol. 697 No. 5 "Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2)
Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages." Personal Apology by
Deputy". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 21
December 2009.
^ "Constitution of Ireland". Department of the Taoiseach. Retrieved 24
January 2011.